In the (a) third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. The Argument - The great providence of God, and his singular mercy towards his Church are set forth here most vividly, who never leaves his own destitute, but now in the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of (b) Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (b) Which was a plain by Babylon, where the temple of their gre... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king spake unto (c) Ashpenaz the master of his (d) eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the (e) king's seed, and of the princes; (c) Who was as master of the guards. (d) He calls them "eunuchs" whom the King nourished and brought up to be rulers of othe... [ Continue Reading ]
Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well (f) favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the (g) learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (f) The King require... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king appointed them a (h) daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them (i) three years, that at the end thereof they might stand (k) before the king. (h) That by their good entertainment they might learn to forget the mediocrity of their own people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs (l) gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. (l) That they might altogether forget their religion: for the Jews gave their children names which might alw... [ Continue Reading ]
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not (m) defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (m) Not that he thought any religion to be in the meat or drink (for aft... [ Continue Reading ]
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, (n) I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king. (n) He supposed they did this for... [ Continue Reading ]
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, (o) ten days; and let them give us (p) pulse to eat, and water to drink. (o) Meaning that within this space he might have the test, and that no man would be able to know about it: and thus he spoke, being moved by the Spirit of God. (p) Not that it was a thing a... [ Continue Reading ]
And at the end of ten days their (q) countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. (q) This bare feeding and that also of Moses, when he fled from the court of Egypt, declares that we must live in such sobriety as God calls us t... [ Continue Reading ]
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning (r) and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all (s) visions and dreams. (r) Meaning in the liberal sciences, and natural knowledge, and not in the magical areas which are forbidden; (Deuteronomy 18:11). (s) So that h... [ Continue Reading ]
Now at the (t) end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. (t) Of the three years mentioned above as in (Daniel 1:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
And Daniel continued [even] unto (u) the first year of king Cyrus. (u) That is, he was esteemed in Babylon as a Prophet as long as that commonwealth stood.... [ Continue Reading ]